Project Description
The aspect of fandom is largely ignored when discussing cybermobbing behavior. Cybermobbers might not be fans, but in this project we will investigate those who can be defined as antifans or people who form fandoms around something ìthat they delightfully detest.î Even if the approach to the material might seem different, the types of behaviors fans and antifans engage in and their emotional investment is very often the same. This research is an important contribution to current discussions surrounding the spread of (mis)information, the role of social media companies in the protection of civil and human rights, and discussions of protections of freedom of speech. Researcher goals for the project: (1) aid in conducting primary research by investigating German-language websites. (2) conduct secondary research in various interdisciplinary areas such as German, Folklore, Fan, and New Media Studies in both English and German. (3) further the researcherís language development in reading, writing, and speaking
Prerequisites
Ability to read German-language websites
Special Comments
Project Information (subject to change)
Estimated Start Date: 6/2/2025
Estimated End Date: 8/8/2025
Estimated Project Duration: 10 weeks
Maximum Number of Students Sought: 3
Research Location: Remote
Contact Information: Jaime Roots (email: jroots@wlu.edu)